In mid of 2019, we came across an unexpected opportunity to start a PET bottle manufacturing plant. It wasn't something we had planned. But sometimes, opportunities don't come when you are ready — they come when you have to decide whether to take the risk or walk away.
We chose to take the risk.
We started small. One injection molding machine, one blow machine, and a team of just three people. Our first factory was a rented space in Seeduwa. There were more doubts than confidence, more problems than solutions — but we showed up every day trying to make something work. That entire year, we struggled just to get production properly started.
On 2nd July 2020, we finally began operations with big expectations. We believed things would start moving fast. But very quickly, we realized how tough the reality was.
Our molds were outdated. We were producing long neck preforms while the market had already shifted to short neck, lower grammage bottles. Customers were not interested. Even when they were, it was harder for them to run production using our products. We were trying to enter a market dominated by established players with better technology and lower costs. At that point, many would have stopped.
But we didn't.
We focused on what we could control — our service, our commitment, and our willingness to go the extra mile. Even when our prices were slightly higher, we worked hard to build trust and maintain relationships. We believed that if we stayed consistent, something would eventually change.
We knew exactly what we needed to fix. New preform molds. Better technology. A proper upgrade — but that required around LKR 25 million — something we simply didn't have at the time.
Then came 2021.
COVID-19 hit, and everything came to a standstill. The factory had to be closed for months. No production. No income. Only expenses and growing pressure.
It was one of the hardest phases in our journey.
There were moments we seriously considered selling our machines and stepping away completely. After putting everything into this, it felt like it might all end before it even began.
At the same time, we had to vacate our factory in Seeduwa and move to Boystown, Ragama. The new place was far from ideal — it was an old facility that needed repairs just to become usable.
We didn't have a proper office. No setup. No comfort. Just a table in the corner of the factory.
We rebuilt everything from scratch, step by step, while still dealing with financial pressure and uncertainty. Then, after everything we went through, we got a breakthrough.
An opportunity to supply 1.5L bottles to the leading bottled water manufacturers in Sri Lanka. That one opportunity changed our direction. It gave us stability. It gave us confidence. But more importantly, it gave us proof — that if you hold on long enough, something will come.
From that point, we started receiving more inquiries. More customers began to notice us. Slowly, things started moving. New hope. New expectations.
2022 — Another Test
In 2022, the economic crisis hit again. Business slowed down, and uncertainty returned. Raw material prices increased drastically — from around Rs. 235 to nearly Rs. 1,400 per kg due to the rising USD rate. It was one of the toughest periods, but we held on and didn't give up. This was a tough period for all the businesses in Sri Lanka.
2023 — The Turning Point
In 2023, things started to turn around. Market inquiries increased, and we invested in a new blow machine and high-pressure compressors. Most importantly, we took our first step toward producing short neck preforms. We visited China to see good manufacturers to do our preform molds and we developed two new molds and began securing new orders in the bottled water industry. It is a big move in our business and I would say that's our turning point.
In the same year, we also started expanding our banking facilities. Since we had maintained our accounts properly and stayed committed even during difficult periods, we were able to build trust and confidence with the banks. This gave us the opportunity to obtain stronger financial support as new business opportunities started coming into the market.
For us, this was more than just increasing limits — it was a sign that our hard work, discipline, and consistency were finally being recognized. It gave us the confidence to invest more, grow faster, and take bigger steps toward the future we had been working for since day one.
2024 — New Production Lines
In 2024, we strengthened our team and expanded operations. With growing demand, we invested in new preform molds and machines and started a new production line for 5L bottles and wide mouth jar bottles for the Toffee industry. We didn't have any idea of wide mouth jar bottles but we managed to get the machines within 3 months after we planned to do production after doing good research of the market.
2025 — Innovation & New Products
In 2025, we expanded even further. We introduced new product categories including toffee bottles, soft drink bottles, and preforms for the beverage industry. We also began producing products like Goli Soda and entered into agreements with larger customers. At the same time, we started importing machinery to support other water bottling plants and businesses, sharing our knowledge and experience.
Same year we had to overcome one of our biggest challenges which is to manufacture water bottle lids — a tough task. It took us more than 10 months to finish the project because it is a very complex project, not like other molds. Also, we introduced producing the lids with customized logo which other manufacturers doesn't do. We have produced customized lids to our customers without any extra cost and we have done an innovative product to water customers so that they can take their brand to a next level.
2026 — Here We Are
And now in 2026, here we are.
We also took another major step in our journey — starting our very first branch expansion. Since the production capacity in our Ragama facility has already reached its limits with the increasing demand, we are now working towards opening a new branch in the Kurunegala District.
For us, this is more than just expanding to another location. It is a reminder of how far we have come — from operating in a small rented factory with a few machines and a small team, to reaching a stage where expansion has become necessary. This new branch represents growth, new opportunities, more employment, and another step toward building a stronger future for our business and the people who grow with us.
From zero to a stage we are proud of — yet we know this is still a long journey ahead. We continue to grow, improve, and build not just a business, but a future for our team, our partners, and the community around us. We look forward to doing bigger things in the future for our staff, our customers, and the community around us.
Industries like this are not easy to start from zero. They require a huge amount of capital, technical knowledge, experience, and continuous commitment. But starting is only one part — the hardest part is sustaining the business through all the challenges, uncertainties, and difficult times.
What kept us moving forward was simple: never giving up on the idea and maintaining business discipline even during the toughest moments. There were many times things did not go according to plan. Times we doubted ourselves, faced financial pressure, delays, losses, and uncertainty. But every challenge taught us something valuable. Every setback made us stronger, smarter, and more prepared for the next step.
That is one of the main reasons we decided to publish this article and share our journey openly. If our story can motivate even one person to start a business, believe in their vision, survive difficult times, and grow something meaningful for themselves and their community — then sharing this journey is worth it because every successful business once started with uncertainty, risk, and a small decision not to give up.
